The Ways of Aerune

Maintenance

Pale Hunters

The Calendar of Aerune

The Laws of the White Court

Each character must pay living expenses at the beginning of each event after their first. Living expenses usually costs 1 silver per event, and this cost is paid at checkin of that event. This cost can rise during time of famine. The cost covers your food and clothing and shelter.

If you cannot pay this maintenance, you gain one point of Starvation and the Starving trait. Each event you attend without paying this maintenance gives you another Starvation point. Your maximum Vitality is lowered by one for each Starvation point you accumulate. If your Vitality drops to zero then you have that one last event to pay this maintenance before you die.

You can remove Starvation points by paying 1 silver per point to eat. Some in game effects or items might remove Starvation points as well. If you die and your spirit is weakened then all Starvation points are removed.

There are skills in the game that allow you to circumvent Maintenance. These skills allow you to live off the land or by plying a trade outside the time you adventure. Many of these skills will be ineffective unless you dress appropriately for someone who lives such a rough life. They may be times of extreme duress when even these people have trouble finding food and must pay some maintenance, although in such hard times those characters will certainly pay less than others.

Characters who are prosperous can live a rich and healthy life. By paying 4 silver for maintenance, your character is well fed and taken care of. In addition to the obvious allure of these comforts, you receive 1 extra point of Vitality at the event where extra maintenance is paid. The extra point of Vitality lasts until the end of the event. Obviously, you cannot gain this benefit if you have any Starvation points.

[top of page]

You will know the Pale Hunters when they come by their pale-boned, wolf-like forms, their eerie ululating howls and their long, vicious claws. They stalk the natural land in the dark and twilight, bearing the rage and pain of the Grey Man and bringing his vengeance against those who would despoil the land or betray his law. Pale Hunters are the servants and children of the Grey Man, his eyes and ears on the encroachment of civilization. most of the time they are solitary predators, but do not be lulled by their lack of apparent numbers. Should you stike them down, they will become enraged and more will come until you have been sufficiently punished in the eyes of the Grey.

Where the Gifted gather in numbers, civilization follows, and such gatherings will call the Hunter's attention. Be respectful of the land and its spirits or they will come for you. Those who live on the borders of the wild learn these lessons quickly or pay the cost. Legends from long ago have taught us to hang wind-chimes from the corners of buildings to ward off their anger, but be warned that walking the wood bearing chimes will not keep you safe.

But even these, the most powerful children of the Grey, have their limits. The foul minions of the Nalachim now hunt and corrupt the Pale Hunters, and their numbers are steadily decreasing. While once it was far safer to travel the less-civilized lands in groups of seven or less, now travelers find themselves able to walk together in larger numbers before the Pale Hunters risk the corruption of the Wraith Lord and his minions to serve their Master's will.

Should the Pale Hunters come, you might divert their rage by showing respect, by seperating your numbers, backing away slowly and dropping your eyes. Be still, be quiet, until the Hunters pass - the Grey Man demands respect for his laws and his own. Do not run from them if you do not want to become prey.

Ignore them, or ignore these warnings, at your own peril.

[top of page]

The common calendar in Aerune is based on the old druidic and Leindrel calendars. The Six Kingdoms adopted the names, but the holidays were changed to suit the Ordained and the year was set so the end of the War of Tears was the beginning of year 1 (Year 0 was considered to be the year when the War of Tears ended, and Aradach became the leader of the White Court).

To clarify: Madrigal I ran from 1999 (1499 in the calendar of Aerune) through 2006 (1506). There is considered to have been a ten-year break between Madrigal I and Madrigal II, which began in 2006 (1516) - it is now the year 1517 in Aerune.

In the long years intervening, most of the peoples of Aerune have taken to this calendar system. Some of the barbarians have minor variations, and the holidays have come to signify different events to the various cultures.

The year was described by the druids of old as a dance, where the elements themselves swirl and move to the music of the world. During each season a different elements leads the dance, and during each month the partner is different. The seasons and months are named for the dance. The druids claim it was this dance of the elements that set the Wheel of Time onto motion. The Ordained claim that the elements dance to the weaving of the Sisters of Fate, entranced by the colors of the Tapestry.

The year is 12 months of 30 days each, with 5 days called the Entracte which fall between months. These days are special holidays or holy times. There are other Festivals during the year, but these times are celebrated in some manner almost universally.

The first day of the year is one of the Entracte. It is the the First Night, the Eve of Spring. It is also called the Blessing. To the Ordained, it is the time when Aradach ascended to leadership during the War of Tears. To the Druids, it is the time when the Green Man awakes and begins to free the world from the influence of his brother the Gray Man. To the Shamans it is the night when the Great Cycle begins anew. Everyone celebrates the Spring solstice.

The year starts with Suen Affabile, which corresponds to Spring. Suen Affabile is the season of Earth, where life comes from the ground and fills the world. Suen Affabile has three months, where Earth dances with Water, with Air, and with Fire. These months are Afynilem (the Awakening), Son'l (the Calling), and Tar'myr (the Month of Tears).

The Eve of Summer, or High Summer, is the Entracte between Suen Affabile and Suen Con Fuoco. It is the Festival of Lights, and it is a the longest day of the year. It is traditional for the Gifted to stay awake all night and watch the sun rise.

As the year grows warmer and the dance moves to our summer, Suen Con Fuoco begins. This is the season of Fire, where the world grows warm and when battle is waged. Fire will dance with Earth in Agorg'myr (the Fat Month), with Water in Kakat'myr (the Month of Sun), and with Air in Tem'pyrin (Storm's Rage).

The Entracte between Suen Con Fuoco and Suen Allargando is the Gathering, when the Harvest Moon rises. It is a time holy to Naveril, where the hard work of the year pays off. It is also a holy time for the Druids who view the harvest as the work of the Green Man. To the Shamans it is the return from the last hunt, where the barbarians will get most of their winter meat. The barbarians have been away from home for the better part of a month.

When the air begins to grow cold, and our Autumn begins, it is time for Suen Allargando. This is the time of Air, when Fire bleeds from the world through the leave of the trees. Air will dance with Fire in Boh'arcan (Forest's Color), with Earth in Ovot'myr (the Month of Harvest), and with Air in Golgymor (the Fading).

The Entracte between Suen Allargando and Suen Tacet is the Night of Dreams. It is the longest night of the year, and it is a time holy to Sereness

Finally, the sleeping wintertime is Suen Tacet, the time of Water. Water will dance with Air in Sephin (the Slumber), with Earth in Fronin'myr (the Month of Ice), and with Fire in Bre'nylin (Final Breath).

The last day of the year is called the Reflection. It is a time of contemplation and a time to look back over the year and to honor those who have passed. It is a reverant time, when people learn and contemplate before celebrating First Night the next day.

The days of the real calendar translate to the dates of Aerune as follows:

* The Remembrace: March 20
* First Night: March 21
* Afynilem: March 22 - April 20
* Son'l: April 21 - May 20
* Tar'myr: May 21 - June 19
* High Summer: June 20
* Agorg'myr: June 21 - July 20
* Kakat'myr: July 21 - August 19
* Tem'pyrin: August 20 - September 18
* The Gathering: September 19
* Boh'arcan: September 20 - October 19
* Ovot'myr: October 20 - November 18
* Golgymor: November 19 - December 18
* Night of Dreams: December 19
* Sephin: December 20 - January 18
* Fronin'myr: January 19 - February 17
* Bre'nylin: February 18 - March 19

Here are the exceptions:

* The Saturday of a June event will be High Summer unless we say otherwise.
* The Saturday of a September event will be the Harvest unless we say otherwise.

Other dates may change so we can run events on in game holidays. So, May 26 is the 6th day of Tar'myr, and June 18-20 is the 30th day of Tar'myr, High Summer, and the 1st day of Agorg'myr.

[top of page]

Thou shall not hold in reverence or serve the powers of the Black Court or any other evil which holds contempt for the sovereign gods.

Thou shall not pay tribute to the Black Court by acting in a manner which glorifies the province of those unholy gods.

Thou shall not practice the arts of the Foul or befoul your body with its taint.

Thou shall not use the tools of the servants of evil.

Thou shall not cause blasphemy by using the name or image of any sovereign god in a disrespectful manner.

Thou shall not subvert the authority of the High Church or its representatives.

[top of page]